Practical Facilities Tips, News & Advice.
Empty schools can look quiet during summer break, but their roofs, plumbing, and heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems remain active. With fewer people present to notice a musty odor, a stained ceiling tile, or water under a mechanical unit, a small moisture problem can spread for days or weeks. The U.S. Environmental Protection […]
Editor’s note: FM Perspectives are industry op-eds. The views expressed are the authors’ and do not necessarily reflect those of Facilities Management Advisor. Facility teams often know their problem assets long before the budget does. A rooftop unit that trips every few weeks, a loading dock leveler that repeatedly falls out of adjustment, or a washroom plumbing […]
Renovation and expansion projects are massive undertakings that require a coordinated effort across service providers, from construction crews that build these structures from the ground up to interior designers responsible for finishing touches. While these projects are essential for keeping facilities functional and efficient, they generate large amounts of waste that can result in project […]
Summer 2026 has made an already familiar problem nearly impossible to ignore. In early July, a heat dome fell over the central and eastern United States, breaking daily temperature records from Newark to Boston, with heat indices reaching 115°F in some areas, according to the National Weather Service. The same week, grid operator PJM Interconnection […]
North America data center demand reached an all-time high in the first half of 2026 with 25 GW of absorption, double the level from a year ago and five times that of two years prior. JLL’s North America Data Center Report – Midyear 2026 reveals that while structural demand continues to accelerate, responsible growth now depends on […]
The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has released the K-12 Cybersecurity Foundations Resource Package, a comprehensive collection of guides, videos, and supplemental materials to help K‑12 schools and districts prevent, mitigate, and respond to prevalent cyber threats. Based on current cybersecurity best practices and frameworks, the resource package outlines cost-effective, actionable, and customizable steps that […]
Heat waves are arriving earlier and lasting longer. According to NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Information, 2025 was the fourth-warmest year on record for the U.S., with average temperatures 2.6°F above the 20th-century average. With rising temperatures come increased risks to the workers caught in them—particularly those in the labor-intensive manufacturing and distribution industries. Heat […]
By now, facilities managers may have seen the headlines: Self-cleaning restrooms are making their mark across cities, promising to automate maintenance, reduce labor demands, and easily sanitize high-traffic public spaces. Public restrooms can be demanding spaces to manage, and the costs of getting them wrong are real and measurable. Any technology that raises the baseline, […]
Managing swimming pools for multifamily communities, associations, country clubs, hotels, gyms, and other commercial facilities requires more than maintaining clear water and opening each day. Successful operations depend on disciplined systems that protect swimmers, extend asset life, and prevent safety incidents, whether operating seasonally or year-round. More often than not, safety incidents and operational disruptions […]
The best facilities managers don’t just keep buildings running—they help people succeed, too. Kyle Rager is proof of that. Early in his career, mentors recognized his potential and encouraged him to take on bigger challenges. Now, after more than 15 years in the profession, he believes one of the most important responsibilities of an FM […]